Get to Know Our Teachers

Name:  Courtney Griffin

Hometown:  Memphis, Tn

Trainings/Certifications: 500 ERYT, Tier 1 Certified Baptiste Teacher, (Level One, Level Two, Art Of Assisting). 200 Hr Certification Bala Vinyasa Yoga, Naples,FL; 300 Hour Certification Bala Vinyasa Yoga/Green Monkey Naples,FL.; Mastery of Yoga for Restorative Green Monkey Naples, Fl.; Baptiste Kids Yoga Teacher Training.

My other job is:  Wife and Gam Gam to 5 grandchildren.

The song I put on repeat:  Dear Prudence by The Beatles.

When I wake up I:  Do my spiritual work and meditate.

My favorite quote is:  “You are your own enemy and you are your own savior” – Buddha

My favorite pose is:  Wheel

My growing edge pose is:  Dancer

When I teach I feel: Happy

When I practice I feel:  Grateful

I love:  My family

Name:  Liz Tong

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Trainings/Certifications: Yoga Alliance 200 ERYT, YAECP, Omtree Shala, Baptiste Yoga Instructor, Yin Yoga w/ Paulie Zink

My other job is: Regional Sales Manager for B Yoga & Halfmoon

My favorite quote is: “You are allowed to be a masterpiece AND work in progress.”

My favorite pose is: Wheel

The pose I resist but know I need: Classical headstand

What are the characteristic or qualities of your favorite teachers: authenticity & accountability

The song I put on repeat: Turn your lights down low by Bob Marley & Lauryn Hill

What makes me laugh: Everything but it’s usually when people don’t take themselves too seriously.

What lights me up in my life: my family

The best advice I have ever been given:  “Patience, Persistence, and Practice” 

Name:  Amanda Spurlock

Hometown:  Jonesboro, AR

Trainings/Certifications:  200 hr certification in Hatha and Ashtanga vinyasa from Akshi Yogashala, Rishikesh India. Mentoring in Baptiste method with 200hr to be completed in 2019 from Griffin Power Yoga

My other job is:  Being a lifelong learner. 

The song I put on repeat:  Mountain Hare Krishna by Krishna Das. 

When I wake up I:  Meditate

My favorite quote is: “Where the heart is full of kindness which seeks no injury to another, either in act or thought or wish, this full love creates an atmosphere of harmony, whose benign power touches with healing all who come within its influence. Peace in the heart radiates peace to other hearts, even more surely than contention breeds contention.” – Patanjali

My favorite pose is: Agnistambhasana – Fire Log Pose

My growing edge pose is: Eka Pada shirshasana – One foot behind head pose

When I teach I feel:  Grateful

When I practice I feel:  Bliss

I love:  Sharing tools that help bring peace into the lives of others. 

Name: Alex Crawley

Hometown:  Jonesboro, AR

Trainings/Certifications:  200-hour certification from Griffin Power Yoga

My other job is:  Going to Jonesboro High School

My favorite quote is:  “The only way to get what you want in this world is through hard work.” – Tiana (Disney’s Princess and the Frog)

My favorite pose is: Handstand

The pose I resist but know I need:  Reverse Plank

The song I put on repeat:  Mrs. Americana and the Heartbreak Prince by Taylor Swift

When I practice yoga I feel… Strong

What makes me laugh:  The TV show Friends

What lights up in my life:  My family and Disney World

The best advice I have ever been given:  Surround yourself with loving people that lift you up and make you happy. 

Name:  Chelsea Hyde

Hometown:  Paragould, AR

Trainings/Certifications: 200-hour Vinyasa Yoga from Yoga To The People in NYC and 200 hour Vinyasa certification from Griffin Power Yoga.

My favorite quote is:  “You do not find a happy life; you make it.”

My favorite pose is: any inversion or deep backbend

The pose I resist but know I need:  frog 🐸 or chair haha..

The song I put on repeat:  Lady Lie by Rainbow Kitten Surprise

When I practice yoga I feel… A connection in my mind, body, and spirit

What makes me laugh: Anything cute my pit bull rescue Jared does

What lights up in my life: Knowing that I am love and am loved

Name: Katie Blevins

Hometown:  Lafe, AR

Trainings/Certifications: 200-hour Vinyasa from Griffin Power Yoga

My other job is: Office manger for Richardson Orthopedic & Associates

My favorite quote is:  ““Sometimes it’s useful being top banana in the shock department” Breakfast at Tiffany’s

My favorite pose is: Crow pose, it forces you to look forward

The pose I resist but know I need:  frog 

What are the characteristic or qualities of your favorite teachers: happy and upbeat

The song I put on repeat:  for right now, it’s “Hold my Girl” By George Ezra

When I practice yoga I feel… at peace

What makes me laugh: Jokes… just kidding dogs memes

What lights up in my life: being around family and friends 

Name:  SaraAnn Sanderlin

Hometown:  Memphis, TN

Trainings/Certifications: 200-hour Vinyasa from Griffin Power Yoga, Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW)

My other job is: Mental health therapist at St Bernard’s Behavioral Health

My favorite quote is:  “Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if only one remembers to turn on the light.” — Albus Dumbledore

The pose I resist but know I need: EASY! Chair. Always Chair. Looking at you, Liz Tong. 

What are the characteristic or qualities of your favorite teachers: Fun, encouraging, challenging.

The song I put on repeat:  High Hopes by Panic! At the Disco. 

When I practice yoga I feel… Empowered. Strong. Free.

What makes me laugh: Llamas. My beagle, Luna. Really corny dad jokes. 

What lights up in my life: Honestly, my yoga practice. When I’m on my mat I feel more confident, strong, and free than I ever do any other time and I love that about this practice because I know that whenever I need it, I can always turn to yoga to feed my mind, body, and spirit in a positive and powerful way. 

The best advice I have ever been given: Stop taking things personally.

Name: Erin Curtis

Hometown:  Jonesboro, AR

Trainings/Certifications: 200-hour Vinyasa from Griffin Power Yoga

My other job is: teaching fourth graders

My favorite quote is:  “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” -Dr. Seuss 

My favorite yoga pose:  bird of paradise and anything to do with balancing or going upside down. 

The pose I resist but know I need: Boat 

The song I put on repeat:  Mighty Mountains by National Park Radio 

When I practice yoga I feel…present, at peace, and deeply connected with my physical body. 

What makes me laugh: My goofy lover, Frank and farts

What lights up in my life: Frank, our animals, my family, students, friends, and my many other blessings 

The best advice I have ever been given: Focus on what’s right in your world instead of what’s wrong.